Liberia: Weah concede defeat and Boakai becomes President elect.
By Baillor Jalloh
Liberia’s former Vice President, Joseph Nyumah Boakai has been voted as the country’s next president after winning this week’s presidential run-off. Results from the National Electoral Commission, the body responsible to announce the election results, revealed on Friday, Mr Boakai of the Unity Party had secured 50.89% while incumbent Gearge Weah of the Congress for Democratic Change had 49.11%. With over 99.5% of the votes counted, the opposition leader holds a lead of 28000 votes, making it mathematically impossible for Mr Weah to clinch victory.
Left, incumbent George Weah and right President elect, Joseph Nyuma Boakai
On Friday night, Mr Weah who is a former African football legend, rang his opponent to congratulate him and conceded defeat. In an address to the nation Mr Weah said: "the Liberian people have spoken and we have heard their voice". He will step down in January and transfer power to the former Vice President who will then become Liberia’s 26th head of state. Since the end of Liberia’s civil war in 2003, this will be the second transfer of power from one elected government to another and Mr Boakai will also become the first president to represent a party that had been in power in the country and return again.
The Unity Party leader, campaigned on investing in agriculture and infrastructure. However, there’s a bigger task ahead as he is set to take over a divided nation with higher youth unemployment, rising food prices and economic challenges and a sub-region with so many troubles, such as civil wars and military coups. In a continent where most leaders would like to stay in power until their death or be forced out by the military, Mr Weah surprised everyone including many in his own party to concede defeat and congratulate his opponent. He has done what many African leaders have failed to do, by accepting the will of the people and putting his country and people first. In his address to the nation on Friday, he urged Liberians to “work together to find a common ground” for the benefits of their country.
